SANGSAD BHABAN, June 6, 2024 (BSS) - The government has 
allocated Taka 18,072 crore for the Ministry of Railway in the proposed 
budget for the fiscal year (FY) 2024-25.

The allocation is Taka 1,004 core more than the revised budget of Taka 
19,010 crore of the previous FY 2023-24. 

In his speech, Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali today said 
the total area of railway has increased by one and a 
half times from 2 thousand 356 km to 3 thousand 486 km.

“We are working to develop the railway sector as a cost-
effective and safe eans of transportation of passengers and 
goods. In the last fifteen years, 947.99 km of new railway 
lines were constructed in the country, 340 km of meter-
gauge railway lines were converted into dual-gauge, 1,391 
km of railway lines were rehabilitated/reconstructed, 148 
new station buildings were constructed, 238 station 
buildings were rehabilitated/reconstructed, construction of 
1,062 new railway bridges, rehabilitation/reconstruction of 
794 railway bridges, improvement of signalling system at 
137 stations and 144 new trains including Chilahati Express 
have been launched,” he said. 

Besides, steps have been taken to implement several 
projects following the Bangladesh Railway Master Plan, 
Eighth Five Year and 2nd Perspective Plan, 
Sustainable Development Goals and Election Manifesto of 
2024 Ali said.

A newly constructed 64.75 km broad-gauge railway line 
has been inaugurated after completion of construction work 
from Khulna to Mongla Seaport. It will establish the 
connection of Mongla Seaport with the rail link of Padma 
Bridge under the existing Bangladesh railway network and 
will help establish communication with the South-Western 
region and increase the import-export activities of Mongla 
Seaport. Besides, construction of a 72 km dual line will 
be completed from Akhaura to Laksam section. 

Meanwhile, the finance minister said, with the new rail link 
from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar, the section is likely to serve as a 
major part of the Trans-Asian Railway and sub-regional 
corridor. It is to be noted that in the next fiscal year, new 20 
meter-gauge diesel electro locomotives as well as 150 
meter-gauge passenger carriages will be added and 100 
rehabilitated MG passenger carriages will be added to the 
rail transport.